Art Beat: Brunnier in Bloom, Supper with Shakespeare

Saturday

Mar 16, 2013 at 8:06 AM

Get ready to welcome spring with Iowa State University Museums' "5th Annual Brunnier in Bloom," at the Brunnier Art Museum, in the Scheman Building of the Iowa State Center, Friday through Sunday, March 29 to 31.

Get ready to welcome spring with Iowa State University Museums’ “5th Annual Brunnier in Bloom,” at the Brunnier Art Museum, in the Scheman Building of the Iowa State Center, Friday through Sunday, March 29 to 31.

“Brunnier in Bloom” is a free event for everyone. Visitors will see an array of floral creations designed by Central Iowa florists and garden club members.

Nancy Girard, the exhibition’s coordinator, explained that the designers are required to reinterpret art from the museum’s collection.

“It is very popular,” she said. “Attendance exceeds most other museum events.”

Jodi Headrick, the Lincoln Center Hy-Vee floral manager, won last year’s best in show award.

She plans to participate again.

“I will be choosing the artwork for my design soon,” she said. “Designing takes me about two hours. I love doing this.”

She is pleased that the store management encourages and supports her involvement.

The Lincoln Center Hy-Vee will be well-represented in this year’s event. Jodi’s entry will be accompanied by three of her co-worker’s creations.

On opening night, during “Flowers after Hours,” from 6 to 8 p.m., the judges, Iowa State University Associate Professor John Cunnally, Iowa State’s first lady Janet Leath, and Mayor Ann Campbell, will announce the winners.

The festive reception will include live music, refreshments, a cash bar, and the chance to vote for your own favorite.

The event continues from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, at the Brunnier Art Museum.

For more information, call (515) 294-3342.

• • •

Now that the ice and snow are in the past, fingers crossed, we can think about taking advantage of the wonderful art happening at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2400 Third Ave. South.

The exhibit, “Supper with Shakespeare: The Evolution of English Banqueting,” on display through Sunday, March 31, caught my interest.

In collaboration with world-renowned English culinary historian Ivan Day, the exhibition brings history to life with a full banquet of replica 16th and 17th century culinary delights recreated by Day.

The feast is installed in the museum’s Tudor Room. The room, with oak paneling dating back to about 1600, is described as “the very embodiment of the spirit of the 17th century.”

Day’s commission in Minneapolis is featured in a Feb. 24 New York Times. He has been invited to curate culinary-themed exhibitions at the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts, in Houston, Texas. “Some museums have discovered at least one secret ingredient to make their potentially snooze-inducing rooms more palatable to the public,” the Times wrote in the article.

Day’s talent fit the bill for the Minnesota museum.

The artist is quoted, “My whole career within the museum sector has been based in trying to get precious objects out of the display cases and onto the table to show how they were used.”

Along with successfully utilizing these objects, Day created a castle-like tower as a centerpiece. He used powdered sugar and special gum to model the standard, emulating a garden building from the Tudor era. It is surrounded by a garden made from almond and fruit pastes. Everything is edible.

The project has succeeded in making the Tudor Room a popular destination for the museum goers.

For more information about this exhibition and more about what the museum has to offer, call (612) 870-3000.

• • •

Ames, too, has a wealth of visual arts.

Perhaps we take the art at the Iowa State University Memorial Union for granted.

Visit and look around. Art is almost everywhere.

Just outside on the north patio is the iconic “Fountain of the Four Seasons.” Then, at the building’s entrance, is the famous Zodiac. Once inside, the walls of rooms are appealingly covered with art.

The Union’s permanent collection, managed by its fine arts coordinator, Letitia Kenemer, is extensive. At last count there are 275 works, some date back to the 1930s. In addition, there are 275 pieces available for rental.

Sensitive to her surroundings, Letitia chooses art that is meaningful to the community of Ames and Iowa State University.

Pieces are often purchased from students who have exhibited in the Union’s Gallery and Pioneer Room shows.

You might want to check out the exhibits currently on display in these rooms.

“Art Inspired Student Juried Exhibit,” is in the Pioneer Room. Showcased are 39 works selected by juror David Boelter, associate professor of art at Buena Vista University, included are paintings, photography, drawings, woodworking and mixed media.

On display in the Gallery is John Soukup (Kettle): You Can Be a Princess If You Were Nicer.” Described as an underground contemporary artist, Kettle has had his work shown at the Whitney Museum of American Art, in New York City.

Both of these shows can be seen through Sunday, March 31. For viewing times, call (515) 296-6848.

Those interested in finding out more about renting art from the Union can call Letitia, at (515) 294-0971.

And don’t miss …

n “Million Dollar Quartet” presented by the Des Moines Performing Arts at Civic Center March 19-24. Tickets for the Tony Award-winning musical can be purchased at the Civic Center ticket office, all Ticketmaster locations, or by calling 800-745-3000.

n The third lecture in the Ames Historical Society series, “Mavericks, Movers & Shakers, Minister: The Mayors of Ames,” presented by Shannon Bardole at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, in the Ames City Auditorium. For more information, call (515) 232-2148.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.